Chapter 77: Chapter 77: The Madam’s Decision

"Your subordinate pays his respects, my lord."

Within the Military Preparation Camp, Li Huai Sheng wore a reverent expression. He bowed deeply, his eyes filled with awe.

If Li Huai Sheng had initially obeyed Chen Sheng only because his Lifebound Poison Insect was held captive, that all changed after he witnessed Chen Sheng execute two of the Gao Family’s Marrow Transformation Realm Martial Masters and glimpsed the mysterious power he unintentionally revealed.

Now, he was truly convinced, submitting to him in both heart and mind.

"How has your cultivation been recently?"

Chen Sheng asked with a smile.

Li Huai Sheng glanced at him and hastily replied:

"Thanks to your great fortune, my lord, your subordinate’s cultivation has been going very smoothly."

Of course, this was a lie. Without the aid of his Lifebound Poison Insect, it was nearly impossible for his cultivation to advance even a single step. But he couldn’t say that, lest he seem foolish.

"Alright, there’s no need for pretenses in front of me. I’m not unfamiliar with the Hundred Poisons True Skill. Without your Lifebound Poison Insect, your cultivation slows to a crawl. You haven’t grown to resent me these past few days, have you?"

Chen Sheng said, looking at Li Huai Sheng with a faint, knowing smile.

"Your subordinate wouldn’t dare."

Li Huai Sheng’s heart was in turmoil, and he quickly knelt on one knee. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"You wouldn’t dare? So you have, then?"

A smile tugged at the corner of Chen Sheng’s lips.

"My... my loyalty to you, my lord, is as true as heaven and earth!"

Li Huai Sheng grew even more panicked, a sense of foreboding creeping over him.

"Don’t be afraid. I’m just teasing. Your performance lately has been commendable, and I’ve taken note of your efforts. This Lifebound Poison Insect is of no use to me, so it’s only right that I return it to you. However, before I do, there is one thing I need you to do for me."

Chen Sheng didn’t bring up the Lifebound Poison Insect without a reason.

Dealing with an Innate Powerhouse required thorough preparation. He needed Madam Yang’s Yin Yuan, and he had his own use for Li Huai Sheng as well.

The poison Li Huai Sheng had concocted had played a crucial role in dealing with Chuyue Mountain before.

Now, it was time to call on his skills once more.

And the Lifebound Poison Insect was the perfect bait to ensure Li Huai Sheng’s loyalty.

Now that his own power far surpassed Li Huai Sheng’s, he no longer needed it to control him.

"Please give the order, my lord. Your subordinate will spare no effort."

Li Huai Sheng breathed a sigh of relief. He’d thought that Chen Sheng, having no more use for him and still not trusting him, was about to eliminate him. He never expected to be given another task.

But then, his heart jolted. To get his Lifebound Poison Insect back... he’d even kill County Magistrate Lin Shou if Chen Sheng commanded it.

"Can you concoct a poison capable of killing someone in the Innate Realm?"

Chen Sheng’s eyes suddenly became stern.

Li Huai Sheng froze for a moment before his brows knitted together. He said with some hesitation:

"With my current cultivation, to create a poison that could kill an Innate expert... it would only be possible if their movements were restricted. Otherwise, they could just use their Innate True Qi to refine the poison, keeping themselves safe for a short period."

"Are there no other methods?"

Chen Sheng’s brows furrowed slightly.

If he could restrict the opponent’s movements, why would he even need to use poison?

Innate Powerhouses are also human. Once they are restrained, there are plenty of ways to kill them.

Li Huai Sheng looked hesitant, as if there was something he was reluctant to say. Seeing this, Chen Sheng said:

"If you have something to say, say it."

"If my lord were to return my Lifebound Poison Insect, I could use it to concoct a poison gas called ’Sealing Yuan Miasma.’ This gas is colorless and odorless. Unless the victim seals all their acupoints and holds their breath beforehand, it’s impossible to avoid. It’s also extremely difficult to purge from the body. However, it still wouldn’t be able to easily kill an Innate expert.

But it can corrode their Innate True Qi and stagnate their blood and qi, causing a massive drop in their strength. If a few Marrow Transformation Martial Masters were to then attack in coordination, there would be a very high chance of killing him. Back in the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, quite a few Innate Martial Masters were ambushed and killed this way.

However, refining this poison is not simple, and it requires a lot of resources."

Hearing this, Chen Sheng’s eyes narrowed slightly:

"Can you successfully refine it within three days?"

Although Li Huai Sheng couldn’t create a poison that could instantly kill an Innate expert, one that could severely weaken them was satisfactory enough. After all, success was built by accumulating small advantages like this.

It was currently the twenty-seventh of October. Judging by when his opponent was expected to make a move, he had about four and a half days left. Time was extremely tight.

"If my lord grants me full authority over the resources seized from the Gao Family, I guarantee I can concoct the Sealing Yuan Miasma within three days!" Li Huai Sheng swore.

He had already looked over the inventory of resources seized from the Gao Family and knew there were many items he could use.

Chen Sheng didn’t waste any words. He immediately produced a porcelain vial and a waist token from his sleeve and handed them to Li Huai Sheng. His voice was grave as he said:

"This is my waist token. With it, you have full authority to use any of the spoils seized from the Gao Family. I don’t care about the process, only the result. In three days, I want to see the Sealing Yuan Miasma!"

Li Huai Sheng accepted the vial containing his Lifebound Poison Insect, his heart finally calming somewhat. He then said in a solemn voice:

"Rest assured, my lord. If I fail, I will present you with my own head!"

"Go."

Chen Sheng nodded with satisfaction.

After saluting, Li Huai Sheng bowed and retreated.

Watching the other’s receding figure, a glint flashed in Chen Sheng’s eyes.

’That takes care of Li Huai Sheng.’

’Next up is Madam Yang.’

He wouldn’t pass up any opportunity to increase his strength.

Every advantage he gained put the Demon Monk Shan Xin at a greater disadvantage.

.....

"Chen Sheng refused the marriage alliance?"

In the main hall of the Yang Family residence, Yang Yi wasn’t angry when he heard Madam Yang’s report. After all, it was perfectly normal for Chen Sheng to refuse. Who could they blame but themselves for not seizing the opportunity earlier?

He admitted that he had been short-sighted.

But given the circumstances at the time, no one could have predicted that Chen Sheng would manage to turn the tables so dramatically.

But understanding didn’t stop him from sighing with regret. A deeper worry settled between his brows.

Looking at the current situation, the Yang Family was in great danger.

Although Gao Yuanfeng was still alive, Yang Yi was not optimistic about him. After all, if the Gao Family couldn’t deal with Chen Sheng at the height of their power, it was basically impossible now.

But joining forces with the Huang Family to continue opposing Chen Sheng also made him hesitate.

This was a gamble with the family’s entire destiny. If they failed to resist, the century-old foundation of the Yang Family would immediately suffer the same fate as the Gao Family.

"However, it’s not a complete loss. While Commander Chen refused the marriage alliance, he is still willing to cooperate with the Yang Family. The condition is that we must pay a price to atone for our previous transgressions.

In addition, the Yang Family must stand on his side this time, and must abandon the Huang Family and... Lin Shou."

Seeing her brother’s pained expression, Madam Yang quickly changed her tone.

Yang Yi’s brows furrowed upon hearing this, and he waved his hand and said:

"That’s impossible."

Abandoning the Huang Family was fine, and paying a price to atone for past mistakes could be negotiated, but opposing Lin Shou was impossible. No matter what, Lin Shou was an in-law of their Yang Family.

He was his own sister’s husband. How could he possibly agree?

However, Madam Yang’s next words made his expression change drastically.

"I agreed."

Madam Yang said, word by word.

"What did you say?"

Yang Yi felt as if he had misheard.

’His sister agreed?’

’What kind of joke is this?’

’Lin Shou is her husband!’

"Brother, the truth is... Lin Shou treats me terribly. He... he just sees me as a Furnace Cauldron. I endured it because I was afraid of implicating the Yang Family. But Chen Sheng’s appearance has given me a glimmer of hope. So, I accepted his terms on behalf of our family."

Madam Yang lowered her head, her voice soft and faint.

"You... Is that true? That bastard Lin Shou is actually treating you as a Furnace Cauldron?!"

Yang Yi abruptly stood up, his eyes filled with a mix of shock and anger.

He never would have thought that his sister, whom he always thought was living well, was being so humiliated by Lin Shou.

"He... he prefers the company of men. He’s planning to... offer me... to someone else."

Her words carried a hint of a sob.

"CRASH!"

Yang Yi could no longer contain his fury. He swept his hand out, shattering a fine porcelain teacup on the table. The killing intent in his eyes was undisguised.

"That bastard! He’s gone too far! Does he really think the Yang Family is just a bunch of pushovers?!"

"Brother..."

"Say no more. I will avenge you. I’ll make that degenerate bastard die right here in Changshan Mountain." Yang Yi suppressed his rage. Though usually composed, he was not without a temper.

He had only tolerated Lin Shou for the sake of the family’s survival. But the Yang Family was a century-old power; they were not without resources. If they were willing to bear the cost, they could absolutely make him pay.

"Brother, about Chen Sheng..."

Madam Yang hurriedly reminded him.

"Chen Sheng’s conditions are not impossible to agree to. But, what if he goes back on his word afterwards?" Yang Yi calmed down, forced to consider this problem deeply.

If the Yang Family and the Huang Family both suffered heavy losses, the one who would benefit in the end would be Chen Sheng. If the other party kept his word, it would be fine. But if he didn’t, he would have no way to counter him then.

"He won’t back out. Because... I’m already his."

Madam Yang murmured, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks.

"What?!"

Yang Yi whipped his head around.

"You gave yourself to him?"

"He insisted."

"He insisted, so you just gave in?"

Yang Yi looked at his blushing sister with a face full of astonishment, and was momentarily stunned on the spot.

’His sister had always been so proper and virtuous. How could she so easily...’

"Brother, I’m sorry. I was selfish this time."

Madam Yang felt a surge of shame, but she had to weave this lie. Otherwise, it would be difficult to force her brother’s hand.

Yang Yi’s brows furrowed tightly. He wanted to say some harsh words to scold her, but looking at his sister’s expression, he couldn’t get the words out. After all, he was the one who had personally married her off to the Lin Mansion.

That his sister had acted this way was, in large part, his own fault. After a long moment, Yang Yi sighed.

"You’ve been through so much."

Madam Yang didn’t dare meet her brother’s gaze. In her heart, she felt her suffering was finally over. Although her relationship with Chen Sheng was purely transactional, he was the lifeline she had grasped in her despair, and he brought her boundless hope.

In fact, far from suffering, she was reveling in it.

"What happened with Lin Shou was my mistake. Since you’ve made your decision, then... let’s trust Chen Sheng this one time. The Yang Family will do everything in its power to deal with the Huang Family, but he can’t just sit on the sidelines either. Also, a few days ago, Gao Yuanfeng paid a visit. He took a fifty-year-old Red Snake Blood Grass. You must inform Chen Sheng about this ahead of time so he can be prepared.

Unfortunately, Gao Yuanfeng is extremely cautious and didn’t reveal his hiding place. But I will do my best to help find him, so that Chen Sheng has nothing to worry about from behind."

At this point, with his sister having sacrificed so much, Yang Yi had no reason to hesitate. Even if only for his sister’s sake, he had to side with Chen Sheng. Of course, this was also because he himself believed Chen Sheng was the better bet.

The Yang Family could not be destroyed on his watch, and he believed Chen Sheng’s side held the greatest advantage.

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